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It is hard to keep up with the cultural constructs of
Dunedin, NZ. We might market as the 'Edinburgh of the South',
then the 'Shanghai of the South' to entice the communist
Chinese, and Las Vegas, maybe. Id prefer the New Orleans of
The South, but gras chance. Dunedin is smack dab right here,
not twelve thousand kilometres away.
Submitted by Ian Smith on Tue, 08/01/2013 - 10:51am.
By comparison with the ridiculous splurges on the Stadium,
'Toitu', Chinese Garden, etc. $10,000 is a drop in the
bucket. However, against the background of Council
Departments being asked to make small economies where
possible, it might well be a significant amount.
If affordable, I think the fireworks are a good idea. Are we
not the 'Edinburgh of the South', making it fitting that we
should observe one of the most popular of Scottish
traditions? On the other hand, if the proposed 27-storey
hotel goes ahead, (and don't put money on it not doing so),
we will likely be seen as the 'Las Vegas of the South',
making New Year's Eve just another night of the year, for
most. [abridged]
kris: the problem is that that argument can be applied to
anything at any amount - remember it wasn't that long ago the
council used our rates money to build offices, a massage
centre and training gym for the Highlanders and the
performance sports boondoggle at the stadium because it would
"only cost $10m" and that they would pay the rent - and then
when no-one was looking the council started giving them an
annual grant exactly equal to the value of the rent. But,
only $10m right, small change when we owe half a billion.
There's an old aphorism "take care of the pennies and the
pounds will take care of themselves" - it applies just as
well to council finances as it does to personal finances. Our
real problem is councillors who don't think long and hard
before they spend other people's money.
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